Device for gripping rods and the like



March 23, 1943.

G. E. FRITTS DEVICE FOR GRIIPING RODS AND THEY LIKE Filed Aug. 26, 1941 i Hamm:

f l L /M/a/vro@ 6:0965 LFP/rms ATTO/@Newz Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES P' T EN T O FF ICE Claims.

My invention relates to devices for releasably gripping elongated objects. While the invention is applicable broadly to means for gripping various` objects, especially elongated objects of uniform cross section, such as bars, pipes, beams, and the like, it is being initially embodied in a clamp for gripping and supporting sucker rods and the like in the oil wellart. For theV purpose of the present disclosurel elect to describe such an applicationof the invention inv the knowledge that the disclosure will be adequate guidance for adapting the invention to any other useful purpose.

In the employment of subterranean reciprocating pumps in an oil well, it is necessary at intery vals to withdraw and dismantle theh string of sucker rods to permit repairingy or replacingof pump members. The string of rods is broken down into sections or stands about ninety feet long, which are usually suspended from' some form of hanger as fast as they arey disconnected from the string. Hangers inV common use, forexample, the hanger disclosed inv my Patent No. 1,627,733, generally includeY a frame adapted for temporary suspension from a derrick and' a plurality of chains depending from the frame, each Vchain carrying a clamp to releasably engage and support a section of rod. The present invention relates to the construction of such a clamp.

The rst consideration in the designing of a clamp for sucker rods is safety. Since the sucker rods are of considerable weight and are suspended' by the clamps above the working crew, the failure of any clamp may have serious consequences. Some common causes of accidents of this nature include shearing ofY the pivot that interconnects the jaws of a clamp,v spreading of the clamp jaws, and accidental releasing operation of the clamp. Accidental release is commonly caused by the numerous clamps on a hanger fouling each other.

The object of the present invention is to provide an efficient, sturdy, and durable clamp that is especially designed to avoid accidents arising from the above mentionedV causes. One specific object is to provide a clamp construction in which the pivot for the two jaws is stressed in tension ratherthan in shear. Another specific object is to provide means for positively interconnecting the two jaws at points spaced away from the jaw pivot for the purpose of preventing any spreading ,of the jaws. In the preferred practice of my invention it is `contemplated that the two jaws willireleasably engage with each other in a manner to prevent spreading. movementfof either j aw in various outward directions;A

Still another specic object is to: provide an eiective tendency for the jaws, to stay closed against accidental forces. I propose to provide a clamp that is self-locking in the sense that closing of they clamp brings into cooperation friction surfacesv producing; an effective tendency to hold. the4 clamp` closed independently of weight or other force from the gripped rod'. It is 01d inthis art to design a, rod. clamp. toA deriveY its gripping force from the gripped rod, but such a clamp commonly relaxes automatically when accidentally relieved` of the rod weight. In this regard a. further feature in the preferred form. of. the invention is the concept of not only providing for inter-jaw friction to. discouragereleasingk operation, but also to provide for friction between the clampedV rod and at least one of the jaws for the same purpose.

Onei object of the invention is t0 lOl'QVide r a clamp that may be employed to gripobjects of more than one size in cross dimension. More specifically stated, thev object is to provide a clamp in which an insert may be removably mounted to reduce the effective gripping clearance of the clamp jaws. A further object in this aspect of the invention is to provide aclamp that will grip a cylindrical objectwith what may be termed a three-point grip and to provide a removable insert that majr` be employed to restrict the gripping clearance of the clamp with respect to one or more of the three points.

A stillr further object of theinvention is to provide a clampthat may bev rapidly and conveniently engaged and disengaged, preferably a s clamp that may be manipulated by one hand for engagement and disengagement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent in my detailed' description to follow., taken with` the accompanyingdrawing.

In the drawing, which is to beconsideredA as illustrative only,

Fig. 1 is a side elevationot the preferredform of my clamp show-ing the clamp jaws positioned for initial movement against a lengthof sucker rod;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the two jaws in effective gripping positions;

Fig. 3. is a plan view of Fig. '2;'

Fig. 4 is a horizontal` 'section taken as, dicate'dl by the line 4"--4' of' Fig. 2;.

v Fig.. 5 isfa perspectiveview of an insert that maybe used*with.the'clalnp y Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a clamp equipped with the insert, the clamp being closed;

Fig. 'l is a front elevation of the clamp equipped with the insert; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the clamp equipped with the insert.

The clamp shown in the drawing has what may be termed a first jaw generally designated II) and what may be termed a second jaw generally designated II. The irst jaw ID is preferably adapted to engage a sucker rod I2 laterally with respect to the sucker rod and to make contact with the sucker rod for pressure against the sucker rod in more than one radial direction. The particular jaw I shown in the drawing is formed with what may be termed a recess I3 dimensioned to receive the sucker rod, the recess being adapted to extend longitudinally of the sucker rod. On what may be termed the rearward side of the recess I3, the first jaw I0 is connected with the second jaw I I by a suitable pivot bolt I carrying a nut I6. On the front side of the recess I3 the jaw I is provided with an integral extension or lip Il that is adapted for positive engagement or frictional engagement with the second jaw II. The purpose of such positive engagement is to prevent the jaws from spreading and the purpose of such frictional engagement is to provide gripping cooperation between the two jaws or to present accidental releasing operation of the two jaws.

To arrange for the desired cooperation between the second jaw II and the lip I'I of the lfirst jaw I8, the lip may b-e channeled or otherwise formed to provide a friction surface or pressure surface for contact with a cooperating surface of the second jaw. In the particular construction shown in the drawing the lip I'I is formed with a slot 20. Preferably the slot 23 is inclined with reference to the axis of the recess I3, i. e., with reference to the longitudinal axis Aof the sucker rod I2 when the sucker rod is in the recess. If the slot is so inclined, preferably the pivot bolt I5 that rotatably inter-connects the two jaws is correspondingly inclined, i. e., approximately perpendicular tothe direction of the slot as indicated in Fig. 7, but it will readily Abe understood that the pivot bolt may be other than perpendicular to the slot if at least one of the jaws is sufficiently loosely mounted on the pivot bolt to 'permit the jaw to follow the path of movement determined by the slot. Y

As best shown in Fig. 4, the side of the slot on the side of the second jaw I I opposite from the 'recess I3 may be formed with two surfaces, a surface 2| and what may be called a bevel surface 22. Both of these surfaces 2I and 22 lie to the outer sideof the second jaw II, and both are generally directed toward the opposite or -inner side of the jaw II. Either of the surfaces 2I and 22 may be employed for frictional contact with the second jaw II,vbut in the preferred form of my invention I vutilize the bevel surface 22 for frictional contact as indicated in Fig. 4. For cooperation with the bevel surface 22, the second jaw II is formed with a flange or lip 23 at its outer end that has a bevel surface 25 complementary to the bevel surface 22. Since the jaws move relative to leach other about a pivot axis, the two bevel surfaces 22 and 25 are preferably approximately concentric to that axis.

The clamp is preferably designed to engage a sucker rod with a three-point grip. Thus, as best shown in Fig'. 4, the recess I3 of the first jaw II) is formed to make contact with the sucker rod at two spaced peripheral zones 26 and 21, and the second jaw I I cooperates by making contact with the sucker rod at a third peripheral zone 28, the third zone being, in general, diametrically opposite the mid-point of the i'lrst two Zones.

Special attention is directed to the direction of mutual thrust of the two jaws I0 and II exerted at the bevel surfaces 22 and 25. In the section shown in Fig. 4, for example, the line of mutual thrust normal to the contacting bevel surfaces is inclined relative to the plane of relative rotation of the two jaws. The interengagement of the two Y jaws and at surfaces so positioned resists in a positive manner the following spreading tendencies: first, the tendency of the first jaw I0 to spread away from the plane of jaw rotation, i. e., to yield outwardly at the peripheral contact zone 26; second, the tendency of the same jaw I0 to spread outwardly along the plane of jaw rotation, i. e., to yield outwardly at the second peripheral `contact zone 2l; and, third, the tendency of the second jaw II to spread away from the plane of jaw rotation, i. e., to yield at the third peripheral contact zone 28.

In the preferred form of my invention the second jaw II constitutes one arm of a lever generally designated 3U, the second arm of the lever being in the form of a handle 3I. It is contemplated that the weight of the sucker rod will be transmitted through the clamp in such manner as to urge the clamp toward closed position. For this purpose, the handle 3i may be formed with an eye 32 to receive the lowermost link of a chain 33, the chain depending from a hanger 34.

Fig. 5 shows an accessory in the form of a spacer or insert, generally designated 35, that may be removably mounted onV the clamp in the manner shown in Figs. 6, '7, and 8 for the purpose of reducing the gripping clearance of the two jaws I0 and II, thereby to permit the jaws to handle a smaller diameter sucker rod 33. In general, such an insert may be designed for service at any of the three peripheral contact'zones 2B, 2'I, and 28. In the present practice of the invention the insert is adapted to be mounted in the recess I3 to serve as spacer means at the peripheral zones 26 and 2,1.

For the purpose of receiving the insert 35, the first jaw Il of the clamp may be cut away to form a relatively wide receiving groove 31 that extends over a portion of the outer side of the jaw and over the edge of the jawto the recess I3. Preferably, the receiving groove 3'I is deepened on the outer side of the jaw to provide a shoulder .38 (Figs. 6 and 7) for engagement by the insert.

The particular insert 35, illustrated in Fig. 5, comprises a metal band 48 with 'a pair of Aspaced perpendicular wings 4I integral therewith.V YThe metal band 48 is bent to form an overhanging tongue 42, thereby to conform to the configuration of the receiving groove 3l'. The end'portion 43 of the tongue 42 is slightly curved inwardly to engage the engagement shoulder 38 of the receiving groove 31, the materialof the insert being sufficiently resilient to'permit the tongue to yield torwhatever degree may be necessary for 'the mounting and dismounting of the insert: The insert'may be forced into place in a simple manner by the application of only moderate force and may be readily removed by first springing the tongue 42 freeY from the engagement s houlder38. In the practice of theinvention it is contem-Y plated that some simple tool will be supplied'for prying the tongue clear of the engagement shoulder. As an example of dimensions, the sucker rodV l2 in Figs. 1 to 4 may be 1" in diameter, and the sucker rod 35 in Figs. 6 to 8 may be '7/8 in diameter, the material of the insert 35 being 1/8 in thickness.

The manner in which the clamp operates will be readily apparent from the foregoing description. In applying the clamp to a sucker rod the workman may hold the clamp in his right hand by grasping the handle 3 I and may then turn the handle to a substantially vertical position. The moving or" the handle to the vertical position tends to cause the jaw I to drop to an open position as may be understood by referring to Fig. 6. the jaw. Iii does not' drop to open position automaticallythe workman may initiate the opening movement by simply pushing` lightly against the jaw with his right thumb. The workman then moves the clamp against a sucker rod to canse the sucker rod to enter the clamp recess I3, as indicated in Fig. l, whereupon the handle may be swung upward to bring the second jaw li into closed position as indicated in Fig. 2. Only one hand is required to carry out the sequential manipulations of the clamp.

The rotation of. the jaw H from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 causes the lip 23 of the jaw to enter the inclined slot 2U, the bevel surface 25 of the swinging jaw z following the bevel surface 22 of thestationary lip. Since the stationary bevel surface 25 is inclined by virtue of the inclined position of the slot, the swinging jaw is directed in an inclined path to progressively approach the sucker rod,

at the previously mentioned peripheral Zone 28. As a result, the swinging jaw functions as a progressively advancing wedge confined between two converging surfaces, one surface being the stationary bevel surface 22 of the stationary jaw and the other surface being the periphery of the sucker rod. If the hanger chain 33 is now elevated sufficiently yto take up the weight of the sucker rod, the eiect of the weight will be to create a strong moment to urge `the jaw Il toward an kincreasinglyeffective wedging grip.

In the described'wedging action of the jaw Il the clamp offers considerable friction'al ,resistance to opening movementI and thereby minimizes the likelihood of the clamp opening outwardly. Once the clamp is engaged with the sucker rod, it tends to maintain engagement, especially if the weight of the sucker rod is transmitted through the clamp. After the clamp is once engaged, the weight of the sucker rod may be completely lifted from the hanger chain 33, and the hanger chain may even be permitted to transmit a substantial portion of its own weight to the clamp handle 3| without danger of the clamp releasing the sucker rod. The highly effective friction for making the clamp self-locking is favored by a relatively low angle of inclination of the slot 20 relative to the sucker rod and is further favored by providing for relatively extensive contact between the two bevel surfaces 22 and 25, on one hand, and between the jaw Il and the periphery of the sucker rod, on the other hand.

An object and feature of the above described form of the invention relates to the avoidance of damage to the sucker rod by the gripping action. Nicking or cutting the material of the sucker rod not only weakens the rod by altering the metal structure and setting up internal stresses, but also favors corrosion -by admitting water and corrosive substances such as acids. The described device has no teeth, ridges, serrations, or other gripping projections that might damage the surface of the sucker rod and yet provides the effectiveness of grip that is associated with the use of such gripping expedients.

For the purpose of full disclosure and toillustrate the principles involved, I have-described a specific form of my invention. Various changes and modications under my inventive concept. however, will occur to those skilled in the art, and I reserve the right to all such departures from my'description that lie within the scope of my appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A-device of the character described for gripping an elongated object to resist longitudinal movement of the object in one direction, said device comprising: a rst jaw adapted to contact said object from one side; a second jaw adapted to contact said object from the other side; and pivot means connecting said second jaw to said iirst jaw for opening and closing movement, the axis of said pivot means being transverse to said direction of longitudinal movementl but inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to said direction, whereby closing movement of said second jaw relative to the first `iaw causes said second jaw to progressively appro-ach the longitudinal axis of the elongated object when the elongated.

object is in Contact with said rst jaw, the direc# tion of closing movement of said second jaw being in the direction of said longitudinal movement, whereby the tendency of the gripped object to make such longitudinal movement relative to the device urges the second jaw by frictional contacl-I therewith into increasing pressure against the object.

` 2. A device of the character described for gripping an elongated object to resist longitudinal movement of the object inone direction,

said device comprising: a first jaw formed with n a recess to receive said object laterally; a second jaw to grip said object in said recess; and pivot means connecting said secondV jaw to said first jaw, the axis of said pivot means being inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated object when the object is in said recess, whereby closing movement of said second jaw causes the second jaw to progressively approach said longitudinal axis, the direction of closing movement of the second jaw being in the direction of said longitudinal movement, whereby any tendency of the gripped object to make such longitudinal movement frictionally urges the second jaw into tighter grip on the object.

3. A device of the character described to releasably connect an elongated object to a member to resist longitudinal movement of the object in one direction relative to the member, said device comprising: a rst jaw adapted to contact said object from one side; a second jaw adapted to contact said object from the other side; pivot means connecting said second jaw to said first jaw for opening and closing movement, the axis of said pivot means being transverse to said direction of longitudinal movement but inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to said direction, whereby closing movement of said second jaw relative to the rst jaw causes said second jaw to progressively approach the longitudinal axis of the elongated object when the elongated object is in Contact with said rst jaw, the direction of closing movement of said second jaw being in the direction of said longitudinal movement, whereby the tendency of the gripped object to make such longitudinal movement relative tothe device urges the sec-` ond jaw by frictional contact therewith jinto tighter grip; and means operatively connecting said second jaw with said member to urge said second jaw in closing direction in response to any force urging said second jaw bodily in said direction of relative movement.

4. A device of the character described to releasably connect an elongated object to a member to resist longitudinal movement of the object in one direction relative to the member, said device comprising: a first jaw formed with a recess to receive said object laterally; a second jaw to grip said object in said recess; and pivot means connecting said second jaw Yto said rst ja-w, the axis of said pivot means being inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated object when the object is in said recess, whereby closing movement kof said second jaw causes the second jaw to progressively approach said longitudinal axis, the direction of closing movement of the second jaw being in the direction of said longitudinal movement, whereby any tendency of the gripped object to make such longitudinal movement frictionally urges the second jaw into tighter grip, said second jaw being operatively connected with said member to be urged thereby in closing direction in response to any force urging said second jaw bodily in said direction of relative movement.

5. A device of the character described y for gripping an elongated object to resist longitudinal movement of the object in one direction, said device comprising: a first jaw to engage said object from one side; a second jaw to en-v gage said object from the opposite side; and pivot means connecting said second jaw to said rst jaw, the axis of said pivot means being inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated object when the object is engagedby said rst jaw, whereby closing movement of said second jaw causes the second jaw to progressively approach said longitudinal axis, the direction of closing movement of the second jaw being in the direction of said longitudinal movement, whereby any tendency of the gripped object to make such 5 longitudinal movement frictionally urges the second jaw into tighter grip, said two jaws hav-V ing complementary portions for mutual friction engagement at contact areas spaced from said pivot means, said complementary portions cooperating to discourage opening movement of said second jaw when said object is gripped by the two jaws.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 in which said portion of the rst jaw frictionally engages said complementary portion of the second jaw from the outer side of the second jaw to press the inner side of the second jaw against said object for further friction to prevent accidental opening movement of said second jaw.

7. A device of the character described for gripping an elongated object to resist longitudinal movement of the object in one direction, said device comprising: a first jaw to engage said object from one side; a second jaw to engage said object from the opposite side; pivot means connecting said second jaw to said first jaw, the axis of said pivot means being inclined 'relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated object when the object is engaged by said rst jaw, whereby closing movement of said second jaw causes the second jaw to progressively approach said 1ongitudinal axis, the direction of closing movement of the second jaw being in the direction of said longitudinal movement, whereby any tendency` 

